Details Emerge From Budding Friendship of Colorado’s Travis Hunter, Player Who Injured Him

At first, the story of Colorado cornerback Travis Hunter and Colorado State defensive back Henry Blackburn seemed to embody the worst college football has to offer.

Blackburn lacerated Hunter's liver with a late hit during the Rams’ nationally televised 43–35 double-overtime loss to the Buffaloes on Sept. 16. In response, some fans sent Blackburn death threats.

However, the two have seemingly made peace and appear to have struck up a friendship. A Colorado State spokesman told The Athletic Thursday afternoon that the two players went bowling Wednesday, adding that their game will be featured on Hunter’s YouTube channel in the near future.

Colorado coach Deion Sanders previously condemned all threats against Blackburn.

“Henry Blackburn is a good player who played a phenomenal game,” he said Sept. 19. “He made a tremendous hit on Travis on the sideline. You could call it dirty, you could call it, ‘He was just playing the game of football.’ But whatever it was, it does not constitute that he should be receiving death threats.”

Hunter remains out for the Buffaloes, who lost 42–6 to No. 10 Oregon last week and dropped out of the Top 25. Colorado hosts No. 8 USC this week in Boulder.

Blackburn contributed four tackles during the Rams’ 31–23 win over Middle Tennessee Saturday.